4J Studios has announced that they will stop updating Minecraft for the Nintendo Wii U, Xbox 360, PS3, and PS Vita by the end of this year. They are planning to release one last update for these platforms before pulling the plug on them.
This news was shared just after releasing the Holiday update for the PS4. This holiday update is available to download now on the PS4, and it will also release for these legacy systems. However, there are no plans to continue supporting them after this year.
As we pack up our Xbox 360, PS3, PSVita and WiiU development kits, we're getting all nostalgic 😢
Please share some of your best memories over the past six and a half years of Minecraft on these consoles! pic.twitter.com/lZhpQUgtLu— 4J Studios (@4JStudios) December 18, 2018
TU73 (the final update) for Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition will be out later today, adding The Nightmare Before Christmas Mash-up Pack.
It's been a long journey since TU1 on May 9, 2012!
Thank you to the more than 21 million #MinecraftX360 players for your support over the years 🙂— 4J Studios (@4JStudios) December 18, 2018
The final update for Minecraft Console Editions on PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita and Wii U will be out today/tomorrow, adding The Nightmare Before Christmas Mash-up Pack.
Thank you to all the players on these editions for your support over the years 🙂— 4J Studios (@4JStudios) December 18, 2018
In these tweets, we learn that Minecraft had amassed a grand total of 21 million Xbox 360 players across all these years. While it is unfortunate that these players will have to move on to a newer system, it was still a long time to support such a legacy system.
As for the Nintendo Wii U, PS Vita, and PS3, they will join the Xbox 360 and get the Holiday update along with a new content pack before being shelved for good.
Minecraft has enjoyed a good deal of popularity on almost every console. It is currently available on the Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC, and iOS/Android store. There is no device available which doesn’t run Minecraft so it is not like those with a legacy system won’t have any choice in what they pick next for their system.
Let us know if you are playing Minecraft on these legacy systems and what do you have to say about this news in the comments below.